GI Dynamics offers novel diabetes treatment

The effects of EndoBarrier Therapy on glucose control are rapid. The EndoBarrier medical device may be implanted for up to12 months of use and has shown benefits in three-month, six-month and 12-month studies. Initial studies have demonstrated that EndoBarrier Therapy has sustained benefits on glycemic control and weight loss up to six months post-explant.

Once EndoBarrier is placed inside the intestine, the food doesn't come in contact with digestive enzymes. So how is the food digested?

EndoBarrier Therapy mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery by acting as a physical barrier between food and part of the intestinal wall where the medical device resides. This action delays digestion and intervenes with the body's metabolic functions, which results in improved diabetes control and weight loss. It doesn't stop the digestion process.

If the EndoBarrier has proven to reduce the blood glucose level, why does one need to remove it from the intestine?

EndoBarrier is a non-surgical, non-permanent device that currently has CE mark approval in Europe and TGA approval in Australia for implant periods of up to 12 months for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. The company recently presented data at the International Federation for the Study of Obesity in Barcelona that demonstrated EndoBarrier can be safely re-implanted in patients who have previously undergone treatment with the device.